Forum Presentation
Improving Practice Through High-Quality Coaching and Training
We all agree that all children deserve to be cared for by educators who have access to and participate in high-quality professional development (PD). High-quality training and coaching isn’t just about learning new knowledge and skills, it is about applying them regularly in daily practice to improve children’s outcomes. How do you know whether the PD you deliver is high-quality and is likely to change educator practice? This session will introduce the Quality Counts California training and coaching quality standards and provide hands-on opportunities for participants to consider how to improve the impact of professional learning and development they provide.
Presenter Biographies
Melinda Geiser began her career in early learning and care in the classroom, and transitioned to administration after receiving her master’s degree in Social Work in 1999. Melinda joined First 5 California in 2014 as a Master Anchor for Environment Rating Scales and Trainer for the Classroom Assessment Scoring System under the state’s Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge Grant. She currently manages the contracted statewide training and technical assistance activities for Quality Counts California, with emphasis on establishing training quality standards and expanding communities of practice statewide. Prior to joining First 5 California, Melinda worked in child care resource and referral, local planning councils and workforce development. She served for several years on the board of the Sacramento Valley chapter of CAAEYC, as well as on the Sacramento County Children’s Coalition. Her passion remains improving resources, support and compensation for the early learning and development workforce.
Elizabeth is a Senior Program Associate in the Center for Child and Family Studies at WestEd. Elizabeth is currently co-directing First 5 California's IMPACT (Improve and Maximize Programs so All Children Thrive) project and First 5 California's Statewide TTA Infrastructure project, providing systems building support and training and technical assistance under California Quality Rating and Improvement System.
Ms. Magruder has worked in early education settings throughout her career that started as an intern 30 years ago in Los Angeles preschools. Her enthusiasm for this work eventually led to teaching 3, 4 and 5 year olds with an emphasis on dual language learners in San Diego and Los Angeles schools for more than 20 years as well as supporting coaching and professional development for California's workforce.